First impression important for freshmen

Sunday

Aug 3, 2008 at 12:01 AM

With the highly-touted freshman class getting its first chance to practice with the upperclassmen on Saturday, it was a day to make a big first impression with the players and a chance to make another with the coaches.

By Richard D. LeeSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

TUSCALOOSA | With the highly-touted freshman class getting its first chance to practice with the upperclassmen on Saturday, it was a day to make a big first impression with the players and a chance to make another with the coaches.

'It was me knowing what to do,' junior offensive lineman Andre Smith said Friday of his first days of fall camp as a freshman in 2006. 'Physically I was able to do it. Mentally I was able to do it by the third day.'While it's only the second day of camp, with an open practice at Bryant-Denny Stadium to follow today, Smith said the freshman have already put in a heavy workload over the summer in order to better prepare for fall camp and the upcoming season.'All of them did an outstanding job (over the summer),' Smith said. 'Everybody worked hard to finish and compete and it ultimately made the team better.'

Freshman performance

During the 30 minutes the media was allowed to view practice, freshman wide receiver Julio Jones took reps with the second-team and third team offense, while freshman wide receiver Burton Scott took reps with the second-team offense.'He's a special guy, he can make plays,' senior quarterback John Parker Wilson said of Jones after Friday's practice. 'He's got a really good drive about himself. I think he's going to be a big (time) player, him and Burton both.'Freshman quarterback Star Jackson did not get any reps with the second or third team offenses (those instead went to sophomore quarterbacks Greg McElroy and Nick Fanuzzi), but that could soon change.'He's got a real good arm and a real good head on his shoulders,' Wilson said of Jackson. 'I think he'll be good.'The first-team offense and first-team defense was unchanged from yesterday, but there were some changes amongst the second and third teams.Redshirt freshman Marquis Maze, freshman Brandon Gibson and freshman A.J. Walker all took reps with the second-team offense. Gibson and Walker lined up on the outside, while Maze worked predominantly out of the slot position.Freshman tight end Chris Underwood took reps with the second-team offense while other freshman tight end Brad Smelley took reps with the third team offense. Freshman offensive linemen John Michael Boswell and Tyler Love both took reps with the third-team offense, with Boswell lining up at right guard and Love at right tackle.

Tide-bits

Sophomore wide receiver Darius Hanks was in black for a second consecutive day. His status has still not been disclosed to the media. Senior running back/kick returner Jonathan Lowe was a no-show for a second consecutive day. Junior linebacker Prince Hall took reps with the second and third team defense.No players or coaches were available to the media before or after Saturday's practice.